Chromatographic adsorption



Nov. 8, 1949 K. H. MENG CHROMATOGRAPHIC ABSORPTION Filed Sept. 26, 1945 sauna/v co/vmmuva MATERIAL TO BE CONCENTRA TED FIG. Z.

T0 SOURCE OF REDUCED PRESSURE -KARL H. MENG INVENT OR BYZfl ,4 W

A TT OR NI 5 Y adsorbed material by .way. elf-illustration thereof.

" numbers refer to Patented Nov. 1949 v 2.01.514 crraom'rooaarmc ansoamou Karl Mm.

Rochester, N. Y., tillation Products. Inc Bochelte poratlon of Delaware auimor to Dis- 2', No Yo. m-

Application September so, ms, Serial No. mass 4 calms. (or 210-188) This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for concentrating a constituent contained in a mixture of organic materials.

Concentration of constituents contained in mixtures by chromotographic adsorption is well known and several textbooks have been written on the subject. The procedure has, in the past, been used mainly in the laboratory since large scale commercial use of conventional methods has presented several serious problems. One dimculty in this connection has beenthe elution of the adsorbed substance column. This has required passageot the eluting solvent through all the adsorbed material on the column or breaking up of the column and separate elution of the difierent adsorbed bands. Neither of these methods is entirely satisfactory for large scale selective separation.

This invention has for its object to avoid the above mentioned difliculties. Another object is to provide improved adsorption process and apparatus. A further object is to provide an adsorption apparatus whereby the adsorbed bands can be selectively eluted without inter-mixture and without complicated operations. Another object is to provide a simplified method eluting from a series of adsorbent bands. Another object is to improve the state of the art. Other objects will appear hereinafter. a

- These and other objects are accomplished by my invention which includes a series of adsorbent zones with means between the zones for withdrawing liquid passing therethrough,- whereby the zones can be eluted separately or in any desired order without breaking up the adsorbent zones.

In theiollowing description I have set forth certain preferred e bodiments of my invention but it is to be understood that these are given and not in limitation In the accompanying drawings wherein ylike like parts: I Fig. 1, a vertical section of a chromatographic column embodying the features of my invention and, in Fig. 2, a fragmentary vertical section of a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 having additional means for introducing eluting liquid.

Referring to Fig. 1, numeral 8 designates a cylindrical container having a conical base 8 which terminates in a conduit 8 provided with a valve 9. Numeral l0 designates a cylindrical reservoir provided with a gas-tight stopper have illustrated, in

' vided with a spray nozzle 14,

through which conduit 8 passes. provided with a conduit I8 and valve l8 leading to a source or reduced pressure (not shown).

Numeral l8 designates a reservoir containing a solution of the organic mixture to be chromatographed, indicated by numeral 28. Reservoir I8 is provided with a withdrawal conduit 22 equipped with valve 28 which is securely held by stopper 28 mounted in ing 4. Numerals 28, 88, 82 and plurality of adsorbent bodies positioned in casing 8 which are respectively supported by perforated partitions", 88, 48 and 42. Numerals ll, 48, 88 and 88 designate thin layers oi. glass wool resting upon the partitions 88, 48, 88 and 42 respectively which prevent the adsorbent from washing through. Numeral 82 designates a space intermediate the adsorbent zones 28 and 88, to which is connected a withdrawal conduit 54 provided with valve 58. Numeral 88 designates a space between adsorbent zones 88 and 32 to which is connected withdrawal conduit 88-, provided with valve 82. Numeral 88 designates a space between adsorbent zones 82 and 88 to which is connected conduit 88, provided with valve 88.

Referring to Fig; 2. numeral 18 designates a conduit provided with valve 12-whichis proterminatingin space 52. -Numeral I8 designates a conduit provided with valve 18 which is provided with a spray nozzle 88, terminating in space 58.

In operating the apparatus the organic mixture containing the constituent or constituents to be concentrated is dissolved in a suitable liquid solvent and introduced into reservoir l8. Valves 28. 8 and I8 are then opened and if a fine adsorbent isused. reduced pressure is applied to conduit ll. The solution flows in sequence through adsorbent zones 28. 38, 32 and and thence into reservoir l8.- Different'constituents'are adsorbed on different zones. Valve that the column remains full I 9 is then closed so v of solution. If desired this solution can first be displaced'with fresh solvent. Valve 58 is then opened and eluting solvent is introduced into reservoir l8 and is permitted to flow through adsorbent zone 28. This liquid then flows out through conduit 84 and the constituent adsorbed on zone 28 can be recovered therefrom. Valve 58 is then closed and valve eluting liquid is introduced and flows through zone 88 and the adsorbed material contained thereon is withdrawn through conduit 60. Valve 82 is then closed and zone 32 and 84 are separate- Stopper Iii is illustrated in Fi 1 62 is opened. Additional ly eluted, as described in connection with zone 28 and 36.

In some cases it may be undesirable to pass the eluting solvent through an adsorbent zone other than the one to be eluted even after it has been eluted and, in such case, the equipment illustrated in Fig. 2 is of particular value. The operation of this equipment is essentially the same as that described in connection with Fig. 1, except that durin the eluting operation the eluting solvent is introduced through valve 12, conduit and nozzle 14, in the case of zone 30, and through conduit 16, valve 18 and nozzle 80, in the case of zone 32. This eluting solvent is then withdrawn through the conduit at the base of the zone through which it has passed so that fresh eluting solvent can be passed into aparticular zone without contact with other solvents. This also permits elution of the zones in any sequence desired, starting with the bottom of the column, if this is advantageous.

Many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Placing of valves between the zones would prevent eluting solvent from flowing into a lower zone in the event that it had been eluted and drained. The adsorbent zones can be formed of any desired adsorbent and can be of equal or unequal size. If a fine adsorbent is used it may be desirable to apply reduced pressure to conduits 54, 60 and 66 at the time that the eluting solvents flow therethrough. Also, it may be desirable to supply the solution and eluting solvents to the column under pressure from reservoir l8, in which case suction or reduced pressure at conduits 54, 60, 66 and H would be of no advantage.

What I claim is:

1. The method of chromatographically separating and recoverin the constituents of a mixture of organic materials, which method comprises dissolving the mixture in a solvent therefor, passing said mixture in said solvent through a chromatographic column of substantial length and chromatographically absorbing different constituents of said mixture in localized zones of said column, and while maintaining said column intact eluting at leastone of said zones with an eluting solvent and withdrawing the eluate from said column without passing the eluting solvent through the remaining uneluted zones.

2. The method of chromatographically separatin and recovering the constituents of a mixture of organic materials, which method comprises dissolving the mixture in a solvent therefor, passing said mixture in said solvent through a chromatographic column of substantial length and chromatographically adsorbing different constituents of said mixture in localized zones of said column, and thereafter separately recovering at least one of said chromatographically adsorbed constituents while maintaining said column intact by passing an eluting solvent through the zone in which said one constituent is adsorbed and withdrawing the eluate from said column immediately upon emergence from said zone being eluted without passing it through another uneluted zone.

3. The method 01' chromatographically separating and recovering the constituents of a mixture of organic materials, which method comprises dissolving the mixture in a solvent therefor, passing said mixture in said solvent through mediately upon emergence from said zone.

4. The method of chromatographically separating and recovering the constituents of a mixture of organic materials, which method comprises dissolving the mixture in a solvent therefor, passing said mixture in said solvent downwardly through a chromatographic column of substantial length and chromatographically adsorbing difierent constituents of said mixture in difierent localized zones of said column, filling said column with said solvent for the mixture, maintaining the column intact, and thereafter separately and successively eluting each localized zone by introducing eluting solvent into the top of the column, passing said eluting solvent downwardly through not more than one uneluted zone and withdrawing the eluate from said column immediately upon emergence from the localized zone being eluted until substantially all of the adsorbed material in said zone is eluted.

KARL H. MENG.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,364 Conger Mar. 4, 1873 316,925 Vogel Apr. 28, 1885 388,868 Gruber Sept. 4, 1888 429,112 Bowden June 3, 1890 575,478 Haefner Jan. 19, 1897 590,868 Wanner et al Sept. 28, 1897 1,246,850 Best Nov. 20, 1917 2,123,785 Knox et a1 July 12, 1938 2,272,964 Coe et al. Feb. 10, 1942 2,418,837 Houdry Apr. 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 568,269 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Principles and Practice of Chromatography, by Zechmeister and Cholnoby, 1941, pp. 1-4 and 64.

Chromatographic Absorption Analysis, by Harold Strain, 1942, pp. 1-7. 

